European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 10, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 18 the stars stripes tuesday september 10, 1985 mount Athos land without women the Call of monastic life time Salandi Hill far the monks an mount allot Crikt i holy Mountain. Sas Tell Al photo by Patrick Quinn associated press y Oung greek men Are continuing to turn their backs on modern Lile embrace ther Igors of monastic life on mount Athos. The Remote Northern Peninsula where communities Are ruled by byzantine tradition. Time stands still Lor More than 1,500 monks in this autonomous state composed of 20 monasteries More than 20 skates smaller religious houses especially popular with younger monks. The newcomers must adjust to a Way of life that has t changed for More than 1.000 years. Days of prayer physical labor Start with a 1 . Church service lasting is the Rule. A the 10th-Century monastery of great Lavra. The bearded Black Robed monks eat lunch at Daybreak. Sitting at Maible tables in a brilliantly frescoes refectory they listen in silence to readings from holy authors while Ealing boiled Zucchini unleavened bread. But the All male population on Athos. Where even female animals Are officially banned has almost doubled Over the past decade according to older monks. Many of the recent arrivals have College degrees. But they found a spiritual abyss in science politics philosophy turned to orthodoxy. They say they be found satisfaction Here said a Monk from great Lavra in his 50s who like most Athos monks was reluctant to be named. Mount Athos. Known to greeks As the holy Mountain was officially founded As a monastic Retreat in . 885 when byzantine emperor Basil i ruled that the inaccessible Peninsula should belong exclusively to monks hermits. Ror centuries mount Athos was a Rich cultural Center where erudite monks amassed valuable manuscripts commissioned artists to paint icons frescoes. The monasteries acquired precious treasures Ivory carvings saints relics jewelled copies of the gospels presented by byzantine emperors wealthy pilgrims. Great Lavra a fortress like monastery perched on a craggy Cliff near the Southern tip of the 37-mile-Long Peninsula is the oldest surviving foundation on Athos dating from 963. Male greeks can visit mount Athos freely the holy Mountain has Long been a Sanctuary Tor fugitives Down outs who tend to live As hermits in Stone huts in Remote areas. But foreigners must obtain an entry visa Are restricted to just Lour Days on the holy Mountain. They tramp Over Dusty goal paths or travel by boat around the Mountain but must Wear Long pants like the monks Aren t permitted to go swimming. Visitors stay for free in monastery guest houses sharing the monks two sparse meals daily. Monks on mount Athos abstain from Olive Oil. Cheese Dairy products fish for much of the year. Meat is eaten rarely at a new monasteries the monks live mainly on pasta vegetables they grow themselves. But resonated wine produced by the monks flows freely. The hardships of life on the holy Mountain where hot water seems unknown Winters Are severe Don t seem to deter the newer arrivals. I came Here to get closer to god. I m living in a communal monastery where there Are a lot of Young people. We lend to stick together because we came of Athos Lor the same reasons said Theofilos a tall gaunt Monk in his Early 20s. The Young monks religious Zeal is sometimes criticized by progressive orthodox theologians. Life on Athos is Loo secluded unreal. Young people go there like the hippies hockey to Indian gurus. It s a kind of brainwashing George Moustakis who teaches theology at the american College in Athens said in an interview Moustakis said mount Athos served to perpetuate the hypocritical tradition of wealthy greek orthodox monasteries. We must esteem the ascetics who Retreat to Pray in the mountains but the monasteries existence perpetuates two classes of orthodoxy one Tor the favored monastic orders another lower class of Parish priests he said. Today s crossword by Eugene Sheffer across 1 Junior s first wnrti.1 c enemy h heroine vapid 12 egyptian god Var. 13 heard on grain14 woodwind 15 woman s cup 17 Melody 18 Ham s Itani 19 marbles 21 diminutive 24 i Unic pest 25 Movis from Side to Side 26 Holster oils one 30 turkish officer 31 Uncle Milt ii 3 Creek 33 the hitter Orange 35 shop 36 taverns 37 Chest sounds38 Spanish 41 Swiss river42 Way out 43 Loos cow 48 dancing girl 49 malay Gibson 50 Olive Genus 51 hawaiian garlands 52 Spanish Queen avg. To Luton 53 tidy down1 stroke liglitly2 Pierre s pal 3 la afternoon 4 heavenly beings 5 temple6 he in debt 7 Kumesh 8 spud9 Border on 10 solitary 1 1 Irant Iacocca time 23 Man. Ann. To yesterday s Puzzle 16 Forest Hooter 20 plucky 21 mop 22 the Ort of uie 23 Hill Cal King 24 encircles 26 endurable 27 soviet River 28 weary 29 chapeaux 31 Nail 34 lessens 35 purplish red 37 stadium cheer 38 True 39 Alieel support 40 Puccini heroine 41 Taj mahal site 44 John in Glasgow 45 rubber me 46 vast amount 47 have a snack 9 10 i 9-10 Hubert Pip you read the article t yes that new won Oer pier in that gloss a Magazine i gave was this 9\g Sooey picture recipe chocolate
